A wall of flames engulfed one of the student's sections. The highest rank student's dormitory was the largest and consisted of a single building. The building featured ten floors, with students assigned to each floor based on their rank.
The fourth storey was ablaze. That area belonged to Irene, one of the 'ten' heroes of the future. Levi hoped she was still alive.
'All ten' heroes escaped this attack without being seriously injured. Even if you made a big mistake, the game would tell you how to fix it because this was merely the novice level, where players learnt the basic controls and foundations.'
The narrative is currently in disarray. Only a portion of the game was taking place, while the rest was absolutely random.
Levi was moving as quickly as he could. Everything would be over if Irene died before it had begun. As he moved closer to the floor, he could feel the heat seeping through his garments.
His instincts were telling him not to go. Sweat drenched his entire body. The smoke had already intoxicated his lungs, and this had occurred while he was still outside.
Levi inhaled deeply and dashed towards the door.
*Bam*
Because of the flames, the door easily shattered. It was like busting through an ash door. Levi activated Sense and rushed to the next door on his right.
Irene had collapsed next to her bed. Her hands were charred, and she was also holding a bow. She had to have battled with someone. Levi became aware of another presence outside this room. He didn't think much about it and raced out with Irene in his arms.
He felt an attack coming from behind him as soon as he left the room. He ducked quickly, and the attack passed through him, igniting the spot where it struck in an instant. Levi would have faced the same fate if he hadn't possessed the Search skill.
Levi took the stairs so he could sprint up to any of those professors and ask for help because there was no way he could fight the enemies behind him. The evil in the background had other plans, so it launched another fire assault at him. Levi barely avoided it again, but the attack landed on the stairs. The fire quickly spread throughout the entire bottom floor.
'Who in the world is this guy?'
There was never someone that powerful at the start of a level, or even in the game's first arc. Levi then climbed the stairs to the top of the skyscraper. Irene began to cough while he was running. As she rubbed her brow, a little whimper escaped her mouth. She didn't have any more strength in her body.
She gently opened her eyes and noticed a familiar figure.
'I'm still wondering how he sees through those bangs....'
'Wait…'
She soon realized she was being carried by the "loser."
"Hey let me do-"
"Shut up."
Levi cut her off. Irene couldn't believe what she was hearing.
'He dare say that to me, the heir of Hydra's Den.'
"If you want me to drop you then it's fine by me but first look at what chasing us."
Irene peeked from Levi's shoulder and saw a man whose body was covered in red and blue flames.
*Gulp*
'Yeah! I shouldn't complain about this after all I can only lead my guild if I am alive.'
Irene made a quick decision. Levi kept on running but his mana was running out as the Search skill consumed a lot of mana. Ten more seconds and his mana would be empty.
Levi finally reached the top of the building and was out of mana. He felt scorching heat around him, the villain too slowly stepped out from the door to the roof.
The villain had a similar outfit to the other intruders except for the mask he wore. The mask had the face of a demon imprinted on it with three horns protruding from the mask, two from the sides and one from the front. The eyes on the mask shined gold, and flames were protruding out from the back of the mask covering the villain's whole head, giving him the look of an actual demon.
Levi recognized that mask. Since it was an item, Levi appraised it.
[
Mask Of Ifrit (A rank)
--->Description:
A mask made by hardening the ashes of demon Ifrit after his death.
Once the person wears the mask, he/she can use the flames of Ifrit.
Flames of Ifrit deal double the damage than that of normal flames. The more the enemy fears the flame/ the user feels angry, the stronger the burning effect.
The rank of the mask depends on the rank of the user.
]
'The Mask of Ifrit at this level. It did not appear even in the first arc.'
The item was really a legendary item for any fire user. It would not only make their fire attacks so powerful that they could even burn buildings within a sparkle of fire. Though the mask's rank depended on the user, even if an E rank used it, their attack power would increase threefold.
Levi was calm but that was not the same for Irene. Whenever that villain was in front of her it would turn her stomach. She had met the villain just a few moments ago but his power terrified Irene.
"Haa! Haa"
Her breathing became heavy, it felt fuzzy inside her head as the vision in her eyes slowly dimmed- she was having a panic attack.
Levi noticed it as well but he did not try to console her cause even if he did not have a concrete plan to escape.
"Let her down."
The villain spoke in a demon-like voice. He had stopped in his tracks and was pointing at Irene.
"Put her down and I will let you live."
Irene shook in her boots. She tightly held on to Levi's shirt with the remaining strength she had.
'I don't want to die. I don't want to....please don't let me down. I beg you.'
She could not say it out loud but Levi understood her. Irene kept looking at Levi.
'He has no reason to save me. I called him a loser and now I am clinging on to him for my life....my hypocrisy seems to have no level.'
Irene knew her request could end up in Levi losing his life but nobody wants to die, cause death is unknown and everyone fears the unknown.
If Levi let her down, then he would live but that was probably just a lie.
Levi scanned around and did not see any other building he could jump off to. The other professors were still busy with the villains and the small silkworms
Fiona was also fighting the demon and it would take her a few minutes to kill that monster. Levi looked at the villain and Irene. He slowly put Irene on the ground.
Irene clutched Levi's shirt even tighter but it didn't stop Levi. Irene looked into the sky and wondered if she could have done anything to escape this but there was nothing.
'So this is how I die. Without accomplishing anything, not making a name for myself... I wonder if my father would cry at my funeral.'
"Now go"
The villain ordered Levi as he moved towards Irene.
Irene examined Levi. He did not move. Instead, he stood in front of her, let go of his quiver, bow and took out a dagger from his trousers.
"Do you think am I stupid enough to believe that you will let me live? How can I leave, when you burnt the stairs you fire-spitting demon. Stop your bullshit and come at me."
Irene could not believe her ears. After all, it was like an ant challenging an elephant to a fight. The chance of Levi winning against that villain winning against villain was slimmer than a meteorite destroying the world.
"Why are you protecting her?"
The villain said as his hands were now covered in flames.
Irene too wondered that. Levi would of course die even if he did not save her but now he would not die an easy death. She too was eager to hear his answer.
Levi could not say the main reason for protecting her. He had to lie he took a stance to block the incoming attack.
" I just want to protect her. Stop yapping and attack."
It now all or nothing